State Minister for Disaster Preparedness and Refugees, Lillian Aber, has called for an urgent increase in funding to effectively respond to disaster situations. With many donors cutting their support, Aber highlighted the funding challenges faced by the disaster preparedness and refugees docket during the handover of office on April 9, 2024.
Taking over from the outgoing Esther Davina Anyakun, who has been transferred to the Ministry of Gender, Labour, and Social Development, Aber emphasized the pressing need for adequate and timely funding. She expressed concerns about the limited financial resources currently available, which hampers the ministry’s ability to meet expectations and address emerging challenges such as floods and infrastructure damage.
“The most challenging departments are disaster, badness, and management. It’s a bit challenging because of the funding issues from the time I came to office,” Aber stated.
Furthermore, she explained that the ministry had been receiving minimal funding due to donor constraints. However, Aber assured her colleagues in parliament that efforts would be made to persuade donors to allocate funding specifically for Uganda.
Aber stressed the urgency of prioritizing funding in order to effectively manage the office and respond to disaster events that may occur during the upcoming rainy season. She cited examples such as floods and the destruction of school roofs caused by strong winds. While some support has been provided in the form of released food supplies for the affected region of Butaleja, it is not sufficient.
In light of these challenges, Aber appealed to the Ministry of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development to increase funding for the disaster department. She highlighted the importance of promptly allocating adequate resources to respond effectively to potential disasters and ensure the swift recovery of affected communities.
“We need to prioritize funding because these are things that are bound to happen in this rainy season. The Ministry of Finance has to provide the disaster department with the money that is required. Then they are able to do work as required,” Aber stated.
As the State Minister for Disaster Preparedness and Refugees, Aber aims to address the funding gaps and streamline the ministry’s operations to provide efficient and timely support to vulnerable communities in times of crisis. With her call for urgent funding increase, she hopes to secure the necessary resources to effectively respond to disaster situations, safeguard lives, and facilitate successful rehabilitation and recovery efforts nationwide.
